STS TÜRKİYE – METU UEAM : STS Meets Ethics Joint Conference
October 31 – November 2 2023
Date: 31 October – 02 November 2023
Venue: Middle East Technical University
Languages: English and Turkish
Grand challenges created by climate change, environmental degradation and the resulting natural disasters along with the growing energy crisis, immigration and pandemics, on the one hand, and the hype and fear around the rise of artificial intelligence applications like ChatGPT, biomedical advances and digitalization based on big data, on the other… In a world characterised by such global crises and rapid advancements in science and technology, it has now become inevitable to address these complex and multifaceted phenomena through an interdisciplinary approach.
Philosophy addresses these phenomena in an effort to make sense of them while simultaneously taking upon itself the task of inquiring how they ought to be developed. Like many social sciences and humanities, philosophy too increasingly contributes to the diversity of studies on technology and science, particularly from the point of view of ethics. It is also crucial to acknowledge the significance of Science, Technology and Society / Science and Technology Studies (STS) which have been shaping our understanding of emerging technologies a great deal. STS has been at the forefront of highlighting the interconnectedness of society, science, and technology, emphasizing their mutual influence on one another. This perspective has prompted us to delve deeper into the intricate relationships between science, technology and society, inspiring new insights and innovative approaches.
As we navigate the complexities of these phenomena, philosophy and STS continue to play pivotal roles in guiding us towards a holistic understanding of the interactions between science, technology and society. By recognizing the dynamic interplay between these elements, we can better address the ethical, social and philosophical implications arising from technological and scientific advancements. In this sense, philosophy and STS not only enrich our intellectual pursuits but also empower us to shape a future that aligns technology with human needs, aspirations and values.
The conference “STS meets Ethics” jointly organised by METU Applied Ethics Research Center (UEAM), Science and Technology Policy Research Center (TEKPOL), Department of Philosophy and Turkish Scholarly Network for Science and Technology Studies (STS TÜRKİYE) and Bilkent University Faculty of Engineering welcomes any contributions inquiring the interconnectedness of science, technology, society and ethics. “STS Meets Ethics” thus aims to foster a more informed, ethical and responsible approach to the development of emerging technologies and their impact on society.
Conference topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Environment, Technology and Ethics
Environmental ethics; Sustainability; Green transformation and society; Science, technology and urban life; Multispecies ethnography; Agriculture and food ethics
- Digital Technologies and Society
Internet security, social media and big data; Artificial intelligence; Human rights in the information age; Information technologies and e-Government; Surveillance society and biopolitics; Human Machine Interaction
- Medicine, Technology and Society
Medical ethics; Bioethics; Philosophy of biology; Transhumanism; Posthumanism; Stem cell, genetic modification, human enhancement; Reproductive technologies; Biopolitics; Food technologies; Biomedicalisation
- Responsible Research and Innovation
Design, technology and society; Participatory design; Responsible design; Social entrepreneurship and innovation; Science communication; Integrity in scientific research and technology development; Innovation management; Technology assessment; Defence industry; Academic performance metrics
- Culture and Identity under the Influence of Technology
Migration due to wars or climate events; Terror, war; Gender; Science, technology and feminism; Social media; Post-truth; Dis/Ability; Discrimination and inequality based on sexual orientation and ethnicity; Technology and psychology; Perception of technology in society
- Ethics, Aesthetics, Technology
Art, artisanship, and technology; Bioart and society; Digital arts; Science fiction literature and cinema; Aesthetics of technology
- Philosophy and History of Technology
Philosophy of technology; Evolution of technology; Social transformation and technology; Relationship between science and technology
Abstract submissions will be made via this Google Form link.
Abstracts should be a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of 600 words in Turkish or English. Abstracts will be evaluated through a double blind review.
Important dates for submission are listed below. For any issues related to the submission process or conference, you may send an e-mail to konferans@ststurkey.net in English or Turkish.
Deadline for abstract submission: September 10 (updated)
Announcement of reviewer evaluation results: September 22, 2023 (to be updated. authors will be informed in person.)
Deadline for speaker registration: October 6, 2023 (to be updated. authors will be informed in person.)
Announcement of the conference program: October 10, 2023
The conference will take place at Kültür ve Kongre Merkezi, Middle East Technical University. Online participation will not be provided throughout the program.
For the participation details, please follow the announcements on our social media accounts ( Twitter , Instagram and Facebook) via #stsmeetsethics hashtag.
Organizers and Supporters: METU Applied Ethics Research Center, Bilkent University, STS TÜRKİYE
STS Meets Ethics Conference has been announced. You can review the whole sessions here. Conference proceedings book is accessible here.
You can access detailed information below for all workshops that will be organized during the conference.
Related information is provided based on the language of the workshop. To register the workshops, please use this form.
WORLD CAFÉ: Post- ve Trans-Hüman Gelecekler: Yapay Zeka ile Yönlendirilen Bir Dünyada Toplumsal Zorluklar (31 October) – [cancelled due to infrastructure issue]
VIRT2UE Araştırma Etiği Eğitim Modülü – Erdemler ve Normlar Egzersizi (1 November)
Atlas.ti’nin Kullanımına Giriş: Nitel Araştırmada Temel Beceriler (1 November)
Case Analysis in Ethics Education (2 November)
Conference Organizing Committee
Halil Turan, Prof. Dr., METU Department of Philosophy, METU Applied Ethics Research Center
Gülizar Karahan Balya, Research Assistant, Dr., METU Applied Ethics Research Center
Büşra Akkökler Karatekeli, Research Assistant, Dr., METU Department of Philosophy
Sinan Şenel, METU Applied Ethics Research Center
Büke Temizler, PhD Candidate, METU Department of Philosophy
Berk Yaylım, Research Assistant, Dr., METU Department of Philosophy
Arsev Umur Aydınoğlu, Asst. Prof. Dr., METU, Science and Technology Policies Research Center
Şafak Kılıçtepe, Dr., Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Department of Anthropology
Erkan Saka, Prof. Dr., Istanbul Bilgi University, Department of Communication Design and Management
Melike Şahinol, Dr., Max Weber Stiftung, Orient-Institut Istanbul
Emine Öncüler Yayalar, Dr., Bilkent University, Faculty of Engineering
İpek Altun, Instructor, Bilkent University, Department of Communication and Design
Scientific Committee
Ömer Faik Anlı, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Philosophy
Semih Akçomak, Prof. Dr., METU, Science and Technology Policies Research Center
Arsev U. Aydınoğlu, Asst. Prof. Dr., METU, Science and Technology Policies Research Center
Murat Baç, Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Philosophy
Gülşah Başkavak, Dr., Max Weber Stiftung, Orient-Institut Istanbul
Fatin Cedden, Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Animal Science
Erdal Cengiz, Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Philosophy
Nesrin Çobanoğlu, Prof. Dr., Gazi University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences
Kurtuluş Dinçer, Prof. Dr., Hacettepe University, Department of Philosophy
Matthias Dörries, Prof. Dr., University of Strasbourg, Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Science and Technology, ESST
Stavros Drakopoulos, Prof. Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Erkan Erdil, Prof. Dr., METU, Science and Technology Policy Studies
Giorgos Gotsis, Prof. Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
James Griffith, Asst. Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Philosophy
Nurbay Irmak, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Boğaziçi University, Department of Philosophy
Gürol Irzık, Prof. Dr., Sabancı University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Ali O. İlhan, Instructor, University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Ahmet İnam, Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Philosophy
Ceren Gülser İlikan Rasimoğlu, Asst. Prof. Dr., Acıbadem University, Department of Sociology
İnan Kalaycıoğulları, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Philosophy
M. Volkan Kavas, Assoc. Prof. Dr., İzmir University of Economics, Faculty of Medicine
Harun Kaygan, Asst. Prof. Dr., University of Southern Denmark, Department of Design and Communication
Azer Kılıç, Asst. Prof. Dr., Istanbul Bilgi University, Department of Sociology
Şafak Kılıçtepe, Dr., Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Department of Anthropology
Emre Koyuncu, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Philosophy
Faik Kurtulmuş, Asst. Prof. Dr., Sabancı University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Umut Morkoç, Research Assistant, Dr., Adıyaman University, Department of Sociology
Aslı Odman, Lecturer, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Sibel Oktar Thomas, Asst. Prof. Dr., Özyeğin University, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Canan Özgen, Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Chemical Engineering
Vefa Saygın Öğütle, Prof. Dr., Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Sociology
Nüket Örnek Büken, Prof. Dr., Hacettepe Bioethics Center
Onur Özgöde, Prof. Dr., University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Başak Ozan Özparlak, Asst. Prof. Dr., Özyeğin University, Department of Law
Teoman Pamukçu, Prof. Dr., METU, Science and Technology Policies Research Center
Barış Parkan, Assoc. Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Philosophy
Jan-Hendrik Passoth, Prof. Dr., European University Viadrina, European New School of Digital Studies
Erkan Saka, Prof. Dr., Istanbul Bilgi University, Department of Communication Design and Management
Manolis Simos, Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Canan Sümer, Prof. Dr., Özyeğin University, Department of Psychology
Melike Şahinol, Dr., Max Weber Stiftung, Orient-Institut Istanbul
Cemal Taluğ, Prof. Dr., The Association of Agriculture and Food Ethics
Belgin Tekçe, Prof. Dr., Boğaziçi University, Department of Sociology
Harun Tepe, Prof. Dr., Hacettepe University, Department of Philosophy
Çağatay Topal, Assoc. Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Sociology
Ertuğrul Rufayi Turan, Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Philosophy
Halil Turan, Prof. Dr., METU, Department of Philosophy
Aydan Turanlı, Prof. Dr., ITU, Department of Science, Technology and Society
Candan Türkkan, Asst. Prof. Dr., Özyeğin University, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts
Aristotle Tympas, Prof. Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Elif Vatanoğlu-Lutz, Prof. Dr., Yeditepe University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences
Özlem Yılmaz Silverman, Dr., University of Exeter, Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology
Saniye Vatansever, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Bilkent University, Department of Philosophy
Stelios Virvidakis, Prof. Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Katerina Vlantoni, Dr., NKUA, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Yasemin Yalım, Prof. Dr., Ankara University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences